Hawaii-Ohio rewind
Ragged as expected. Interesting comment from Adolpho in our post game. Said they love the crowd but it can be intimidating for them as well. That it takes a while to get used to.
People got a little brutal on the previous thread. It’s just the first match, a lot of kinks to work out.
As for the connection with Magill, Ohio deliberately doubled up on her. Agree that some of the sets were low but you have to understand how quickly she gets up. Think she jumped earlier a couple of times trying to beat the block, so it’s not all on Higgins.
Mendoza played an excellent game. Shoji said as much in the post game. Also that he liked what Kahakai did tonight, tough serve (2 aces), and eight digs.
Said Long probably took too many swings. She had 35, one more than she took all of last season. But consider that a couple of times she was taking 2-3 swings on a play. He liked how she stayed aggressive and didn’t back down.
He also liked Manu-Olevao’s percentage, hit .304. She had not hit 30 percent in any practice coming into the match.
Re: ASU. Said they’re going to have to be quicker and better on defense against the Sun Devils.
Key Stats. Magill 10 kills in Set 3, 9 total by Manu-Olevao. Adolpho with 8 and 1 error, Long 8. Mendoza 24 digs, career high. UH out-digs Ohio 63-51.
see you folks tomorrow.
People need to stop being so hard on this team. Ohio is not a ncaa powerhouse team, but they aren’t some slouch. They return 5 players and two MAC POY. Hawaii is without their best OH in Taylor, of course they will struggle. Hawaii only had 2 returnees on the court. The rest weren’t starters (Magill was at Arizona). Lay off the team. Asu will be tough and the wahine may not win, but they have the skill to do so. Impressed ALOT with Mendoza, kahakai and Adolpho. Mendoza played lights out and kahakai plays like a veteran. Kalei showed leadership and tai has improved leaps. Magill will be good when she gets better with Higgins.
Great game bows. I’m proud of you
Is that Magill 10 kills in three sets ?
i’m not sure, but my mom said she saw longo sitting with the coaching staff. was that her? i didnt see, but i know my mom tends to mistaken people often. please tell me. she is confusing me.
Yes islandman, Magill 10 kills in 3 sets. Started to pick up the pace after a slow start in set 1.
I am rooting for Long and agree she was the only option in many of the rallies. With that being said, she needs to terminate better for the Wahine to be successful. 35 attempts in a 3-set match is a lot. Like Emily Hartong probably would have seen as many sets. The difference is Long is not Hartong. Us fans need to get used to this. Hartong would have converted on a lot more of these sets, in or out of system. Throw a healthy Nikky Taylor out there and we might have a different argument. Ginger is doing her job and given it was the first night of the season, I think she did well.
Impressed with Mendoza. She dug some bombs out of right back, which is not where you’d expect your libero to be playing defense. Had a couple “wtf?!” moments in serve receive, but expect that to work itself out.
ASU is intriguing. They are a middle of the pack Pac-12 team but the type that could upset a #1 on any given night. UH either needs to get Magill involved from the get go, or Long needs to convert earlier on for them to win. I’m thinking this might the chance for us to see Greeley in action.
Yes, Ashley. Longo is a volunteer assistant this year alongside James Ka, a ’00 grad out of Kamehameha and Pepperdine.
Just FYI,
Ohio has won the MAC 10 of last 11 years. They return 4 of 7 starters from last year’s 27-6 team, which included a SWEEP AT then #8 Oregon.
Great win for U of H. Thought the team ground out a win against a very quick and competitive team. Like the possibilities in the middle, they had some pretty good connections last night. Good first match win.
IMHO: Thought the starting line up too short, would like to see more of Kalei G, especially against Arizona State. Maybe an illusion but thought the players hit the ball harder in warm ups than in the game.
Cindy,
how close is/was the libero race between Mendoza and Kahakai? I was impressed as well by Kahakai’s back row play and serving, but I was blown away by how well Mendoza did. I mean she did well last year but she looks like so far she has improved greatly. I think it’s also very encouraging seeing someone with a lot of experience like Longo helping out on the staff.
As far as the match is concerned I think the team did well. I wasn’t expecting a “pretty” match considering its the first match and with how many new players are on the team, but they handled themselves just fine. Ohio is no pushover and is a very good team as well, so the team and fans should be encouraged by the win.
Kaleo Baxter is an assistant coach at Irvine Valley now ?
I think Long had a few good moments and just needs to touch up on her errors. The best player may be off during the first couple games of season as well…People just need to chill and give these players who haven’t been on the court as much as Long time to regroup. Did you walk when you were first born? Probably not. Hope your mom or dad didn’t “spank” you when you didn’t….Sheeesh!!!
It looks like Kaleo Baxter is indeed coaching at Irvine Valley. He played there for Tom Pestolesi in 07 and 08. Congratulations to him. I had an opportunity to chat with him at a local club tournament last year and he mentioned the possibility of moving to California. Baxter ran Imiike very well. My daughter always enjoyed playing their teams. Taylor, Kahakai, Anderson and 2015 Granato are all products of that club.
9. Yes, as an assistant coach and Annie Mitchem should be in the house tonight.
I saw Mitchem in the background during the Tai interview
Mitchem posted a tripple double against naia #2 Concordia.. I can’t wait to see her in a wahine jersey.
Does the bigwest no longer archive their recently streamed matches?
11. uhfan, yes that was Annie with Scott Wong who introduced her to the aunties.
to add…….hoping for a verbal from her before she leaves. With her to fill in for Kalei Adolpho, UH looking like a legit contender for a great run.
A player is on the ASU roster, Nora Tuioti-Mariner, who doesn’t play much, it appears, but who played more in her freshman and soph years. Her bio says she had two older brothers who played football at UH and Colorado. It was Lafu Tuioti-Mariner, who started all 14 games in 2009 at right guard for UH, per UH site.
14. If she were to commit I would put Mitchem on the RS with her all around game
Hi Cindy. The stats on the Hawaii Athletics site says that Magill only has one BS. I thought she had more than one BS and a bunch of BA’s. What are your thoughts? Thanks for all you do.
17 Noticed that also, I recall a lot more than that.
Most glaring error is 58k and .328 hitting pct.
Are we to expect Kendra to be riding the pine like this? She is so tremendously talented that it would be a waste tbh. After watching last nights game, I’m convinced if she was given the chance, Kendra could have locked up that OPP spot. I do recognize the need for a back up setter. But could she not have practiced both positions?
I just don’t want to see this girls talent wasting away on the bench like this. Hope I’m wrong.
Go Bows!
stayed up way too late last night… just was reading through the blogs… I have to admit while I was watching last night, that I was being over critical as well… yes, we fans certainly have very high expectations of this team… they got the W although it was ugly the pulled through and swept em’ .
looking forward to 2nites game… it’ll be tougher!! so I hope they got that 1st game jitters out of their systems!! go BOWS!!
oh I thought McLaughlin’s grade of “B-” ? pretty generous! I would have given a c- like Tai did…
3. Yes it’s Longo, mentioned weeks ago she was a student assistant. as well as Ka, who replaced Baxter as volunteer assistant
8. very close but no surprise Shoji went with the senior.
9. Baxter is on staff as is Butch May ivc.edu
10. Mitchem was there last night.
14. wouldn’t worry about that. she will sign in November.
12. don’t know.
17. if anyone jumps on the block, they get credit whether they touch the ball or not.
20. wow, wasting away after one match. beyond critical.
She came in with no expectations of playing, let alone starting, this year. Goal is to learn and get better.
And, no, there is a huge need for a backup setter so no sense wasting her time training her for another position. Not when they might go to a 6-2 or need a bigger block.
2. Magill 10 kills, 5 in Set 3, several on overpasses
mitchem is a beast. she hits a very very heavy ball.
can’t wait to see her play for the wahine!
I dont know where the attitude is coming from Cindy….I was simply asking ma’am. Im sure many Hawaii fans know how much of a gem and asset she can be for this program….and her blocking is just one part of that. Forgive me if it sounds like I am being uber critical…but I just feel Kendra is talented enough to not be riding the pine
I feel Kendra potentially being the underling for what may be 3 years with Higgins is just a waste of her potential. That was all.
Northwestern State beat Missouri 3-0.
Mitchem in the four set win over Concordia had 16k, 10 blks, and 16 digs. Tom Pestolesi says she’s the best backrow player for them. If she plays middle, a rare site to see a mb play 6 rotations nowadays.
When was the last time Shoji actually went with a 6-2? When Vakasausau and Carey were here?
Not exactly a 6-2 with Carey/Vakasausau. More of a hybrid 5-1. Carey set in the front row, Vakasausau in the back.
Don’t careif the protectors bite my head off, observed with my own maka’s that Higgens setting was pretty low to Magill. Not only to low, but not much deception as to the location. It seemed as if 90% went a one set in front of the setter. Taylor may want to set Magill higher and a faster tempo even if it will be a 1 set. Maybe set her a 2 set back of the setter or even a 3 set just to break up the two blockers camping out on her. As for Adolpho, to much a of slide set will be easily read by better blocking teams. To me Passi is just okay. I’d rather see some height on the right. Maybe Greely and or Koelsch. Outsides are okay a little small for the Pac 12 opponents coming soon. Mendoza is money and Kahakai is perfect as a DS.
Here are some observations from last nights game. Ohio probably made too many “nervous” mistakes that lost the game for them including many service errors at critical times. UH was disjointed often because they are finding their style and personality. First time many of them played together in a real match (and against a very decent opponent). UH didn’t win the match, Ohio lost it. At several points in the match, weren’t there all local girls on the court? Has this ever happened before? Mendoza played good, maybe great, but that is the minimum expected out of that position. After a couple of points, you could see why the coaches raved about Kahaki. Her athleticism makes the game look easy and she has a calming, confidence effect on the team the same way the previous greats had influenced the team.
exactly what Deitre said in my story Friday.
31. sorry if you think it was attitude. have watched the setters for two weeks, people saw Koelsch in a limited basis for one match.
Said a while back that I had asked Shoji about Koelsch playing OH. he said no, they needed a second setter. And she will be used as that.
just saying no sense wasting practice reps on her hitting outside (although the setters hit outside during warmups in practice).
your original comment: Are we to expect Kendra to be riding the pine like this?
answer: she’s a freshman, she is still learning, they’ll use her, as they used her last night, in the right situation.
Thank you for your clarification and answers to my question. It is truly appreciated.Mahalo nui Cindy!
no worries. i’m a bit grumpy. again.
Hi Cindy, are there going to be any line-up changes/insertions that would be a benefit to counter Arizona tonight?
41. don’t know. we’re still over 2 hours away
Is O. McGill really 6’1? She looks much taller than that.
41. it’s what she’s listed as, measured when practice started. she is thin and plays taller. have mentioned her vertical is 10-6, 10-7
note how the crowd kind of got the picture and let lay low on cheering for the bows? they are nervous enough even though the starters are veterans. they dont need unnecessary fanfare. only when its approriate and things are heated up like not when they are commencing start. at least ohio didnt feed off that like byu did last year. coach shoji has his reserves full this year and the other players to be mentioned are like short stop reserves. hopefully he got his team together as they cant be playing like they played this match in the next 2 hours. tai manuolevao knows giving her team grade a c- for this match and suggesting that its too nice.
rough start, but a good hard fought win from a young lineup. pleasantly surprised by the stepped-up play of mendoza, kahakai, adolpho and olevao. some shaky moments from long and higgins, but they played aggressively through it.
magill looks incredibly athletic. yes, the sets to her were low. but i suspect that connection between higgins and magill will improve. i mean, they’ve only been playing together a few short weeks.
if the passing holds up — and it looks like the potential is there with mendoza/kahakai taking the pressure off whichever OH is asked to pass alongside them — then it will allow this lineup to stay in matches, even as they struggle to generate and find consistency on offense.
in a way (and this is going to sound odd), this lineup surpassed my expectations a little. but a lot of up-side, especially with taylor hopefully returning soon.
42. but with Manu-Olevao sitting out tomorrow, likely Greeley will see more time just to get used to the game flow.
i also like kalei adolphos presence just like she is the command model.
keani passi also appears to be tactical and has a rocket launcher if not her heavy punch